Dave Heaster was born in Brookfield, Wis., and currently resides in Sussex. After attending the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, he received a bachelor's degree in business administration from UW-Eau Claire.

Heaster is an IT professional at Kohler Co. He worked in similar positions at companies including Kohl's Corp. and Harley-Davidson Inc.

Heaster is married and has three children.

Dave Heaster is a political newcomer running in 2012 for Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District seat because, he said, Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan were taking the state away from its progressive roots.

He said his top priority would be to reform the campaign finance system to limit the influence of corporate donors and political action committees.

He faces tough odds as a Democrat running in a strongly Republican district. He's also challenging an entrenched incumbent, U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, who has represented the district since 1978.

Sensenbrenner had about $350,000 cash on hand in July 2012, while Heaster had about $500. Heaster said he planned to use grassroots efforts _ meeting voters face-to-face at events such as fairs and farmers markets _ to introduce himself.

He said he has a simple plan to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. He argues that it's more expensive to make products in this country because of the regulations that govern safety and minimum wage. So to level the playing field, Heaster said the U.S. should impose the same regulations on foreign businesses that want to sell here, thereby eliminating their production advantage.

He favors abortion rights and believes that the government cannot legislate what people do with their bodies.

Heaster also believes that the U.S. should only go to war when its borders, or the borders of key allies, come under fire. He says terror should be fought with small, elite forces armed with high-tech weaponry, not a large unwieldy army.